Sanitary milking stool



June 10, 1941. A. A. KOLLANDER SANITARY MILKING STOOL Filed Aug. 29, 19:58#y

Patented June 10, 1941 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE l Y V2,244,912 v SANITARY MILKING s'roor;

Alfred'A. liollander, Stillwater, Minn. applicati@ August 29, 193s, serial No. 227,369 (C1. 155-194) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to stools and more particularly to stools adapted for milking cows.

Although automatic milking machines have been perfected and used for a considerable length of time small dairy farmers and even many of the larger dairy farmers still milk their cows by hand.

The farmer who milks by hand provides himself with a small stoolv which is generally relatively low and it is nearly a universal practice to make milking stools lower than the knees of the ordinary adult. When one sits on such a stool he is practically in a crouching position and the usual flat topped milking stool soon becomes very uncomfortable, Pads have been used on the usual fiat topped stool but due to the unnatural sitting posture even these do not provide any appreciable degree of comfort. In addition although much has been done in dairy barns to improve sanitary conditions and although more rigid inspection is constantly being employed, the industry has overlooked the fact that the old wooden milking stool is one which readily collects dirt and germs, and even though the wooden stool is frequently cleaned, it is impossible to maintain it in any sort of sanitary condition.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a milking stool which has a form fitting seat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stool wherein the form fitting configurat-ion of the seat provides sufficient reinforcement therefor to eliminate the need for any further strengthening means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a milking stool which is simply constructed and which is made of sheet metal so that it can be quickly and easily sterilized or otherwise cleaned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal milking stool which is composed principally of a single blank of metal stamped and bent to form the seat and legs thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1I is a. plan view of the blank used in forming my improved stool;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stool in its formed condition;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation'thereof; and` Fig. 4is a side elevation. f. f y y f In Fig. 1 there is shown a blank which 'has a central portion 5 which comprises the seat portion of the stool andgend/ portions V(i which comprise the legs of the stools'` This blank ,ascan be readily seen can be stamped in one operation.

The stool is formed after cutting ofthe blank byl forming bends inthe legportionsso ,thatv said leg portions or stool .endschave concave outer surfaces as indicated inA Figs. 2 and 4, the-concavity preferably extending longitudinally'of vthe end or leg sections from the lower portions `thereof to or adjacent the upperl portionsl thereof. The bending of the leg or end portions 6 materially adds to the strength of those elements.

The blank may then be placed in a press which will bend the leg portions as shown in Fig. 4 and at the same time the form fitting configuration of the seat portion 5 can be pressed. It will be noted that the seat portion is so shaped that there is a longitudinal .ridge or raised portion 1 extending from adjacent the upper end of one leg section to adjacent the upper end of the other leg section. The side portions of the seat section 5 are curved downwardly toward the edges of said seat portion to provide a comfortable seat surface. In addition as shown in Fig. 4 the seat is curved downwardly to provide a shape which will give added comfort. If desired the corners provided by the bending of the leg portions may be bent slightly inwardly as at 8 to give added strength to the structure.

During this shaping operation or in a subsequent operation auxiliary leg portions 9 are bent to a curved shape in Yconjunction with the remainder of the lower portions of the leg elements, and as best indicated in Fig. 4, the sections 9 of opposite legs are bent toward each other. Connecting these portions 9 are braces l0 which may be rigid or welded at their ends to said auxiliary leg portions. The ends of the braces 9 are preferably flat and relatively wide to permit firm fixlng of said ends to the legs and intermediate portions of the braces are curved or angled as indicated in Fig. 7 so that they will not bend in use.

The structure above described is not only extremely rigid and easy to clean, but it is onewhich provides a great deal more comfort to the user thereof than present known types of milking stools. The formation of the ridge or raised central portion of the seat not only adds to the comfort of the user, but, as was pointed out above, provides sufficient reinforcement for the seat to eliminate the need for a downwardly turned edge along the sides of the seat such as is commonly used in sheet metal chair constructions. The stool can be made of any desired type of sheet metal but it is preferred that some stainless metal be used or that the metal have a stainless coating thereon so that it can be easily kept in an extremely sanitary condition. The stool can be quickly sterilized by steaming and it is not affected in any manner by subjection to the heat of the steam.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

viding a seat, and areas providing leg portions and bent at an angle to central seat area and said seat having form tting configuration including a centrally disposed ridge extending substantially throughout said seat, said ridge also providing reinforcement for said sheet metal seat.

5. A milking stool or the like comprising relatively short supporting legs, and a seat connected at edges thereof to said legs and having substantially identical form on each side of longitudinal and transverse center lines, said seat sloping upwardly and inwardly from points at other 1 vopposite edges to said longitudinal center line.

rangement and proportions of the various parts Without departing from the scope of my invention. v 4

What is claimed is:

1. A milking stom and the like 'ina-ione piece metal blank having a central area and areas providing front and rearleg portions bent atan angle to said central area, and said central area being shaped to provide a form iittingseat.-

2. The structure in claim 1 Aandbra'ces connecting said' leg portions to maintain them in the position to which they are'bent.

3. The structure in claim 1 and brace elements connecting said leg portions, said brace elements being bent' in vcross section intermediate their endsand 1 the endsof said brace elements being videA and substantially fiat, Land said leg portions having fiat areas to which saidv brace ends are secured. Y

4. A milking ystool and the like comprising a one piece metal blank having a central areapro- 6. A seat for a milking stool and the like comprising, a medial element shaped to form-litting coniguration,said configuration including subv,stantially symmetrical concave side areas and an upwardlyprojecting rounded ridge portion extending substantially through said seat and being of symmetrical formation with the central portion of said ridge having a more pronounced cross sectional arch than the end 'portionsof said rdga 1 7. A milking stool or the like comprising, relatively short supporting legs, and a seat connected to said legs and having substantially identical form on each side of longitudinal and transverse center lines, said seat having longitudinal side edge portions, and portions sloping inwardly and upwardly from said longitudinal edge portionsto said longitudinal center line and said 'edge portions' also sloping upwardly from an intermediate portion thereof toward each end of said seat.

ALFRED A. KOLLANDER.. 

